Privet Andromeda.Andromeda ligustrina.
Found in moist wayside thickets and swamps; blossoming in June.
The tough, woody stalk, erect, branching, and leafy, is covered with a smooth, light gray bark. It grows from 3 to 6, or more, feet in height.
The small leaves are from 1 to 2 inches long, tapering at both ends; they are alternate, on very short foot-stems. The margin is entire, or very finely notched, surface smooth, and texture firm. Color, green.
The small, bell-shaped flower is nearly round, with 5 tiny,recurvedpoints at the top. It is inconspicuous in color, being of a dull greenish white, the tawny stamens showing within. The flowers, on short, curved stems, hang from one side of the twigs, on the ends of the branches.
The seed-case is small, round, brown, and 5-parted; it is especially noticeable in winter and early spring, and is at all times more attractive to the eye than the colorless flowers,—it adds a graceful touch to the winter bouquet gathered by the twig-loving wayfarer.